Plagiarism Detection Software

Software is available for faculty use in detecting plagiarism. Turnitin scans student submissions for matched text, comparing their work to a large database of other student submissions, publications, and materials on the Internet.

A site on Blackboard, instead of Turnitin’s own site, provides step-by-step instructions for Cornell faculty and students, on how to limit disclosure of some FERPA information.

Instructions for using Turnitin, as well as tips about its role as an educational tool, are available. The Academic Technologies staff holds instructional workshops for faculty. Register for a session.

Faculty who use or anticipate using Turnitin must provide an additional notice to students, substantially to the effect of the following:

Students agree that by taking this course all required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. Use of the Turnitin.com service is subject to the Usage Policy posted on the Turnitin.com site.

If Turnitin is instituted after the syllabus is distributed, faculty should provide written notice at that time.